Rangers fan Matt Bell, 18, of Burleson, Texas, shows his continuing support for his favorite player, Josh Hamilton, who left the Rangers after five seasons to play for the AL West rival Angels MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Rangers fan David Warnhoftig, 43, of Frisco, Texas, customized his old Josh Hamilton jersey and booed the former Rangers slugger on his return to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at Friday's home opener as a member of the Angels. MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Cesar Sedilla Jr., 31, of McAllen, Texas, turned the Josh Hamilton Rangers jersey he bought two seasons ago when the slugger led the team to the 2011 World Series into a "Traitor" jersey now that Hamilton plays for the Angels. MARCIA C. SMITH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANGELS MAILBAG COMING SOON

Angels beat writer Jeff Fletcher will answer your questions online and in upcoming editions of the Orange County Register. Send your questions to him at jlfletcher@ocregister.com

ARLINGTON, Texas – When a baseball team loses 3-2, as the Angels did against the Texas Rangers on Friday afternoon, the problem is generally not the "3."

It's the "2."

While it might be tempting to look at the one-run lead the Angels surrendered in the seventh and blame the loss on relievers Garrett Richards or Scott Downs, who gave the tying and go-ahead runs, respectively, the fact is this Angels team should be giving its pitchers more room for an occasional mistake.

"The pitching staff did a great job giving us a chance to win," catcher Chris Iannetta said. "We just need to hit a little better."

With the appropriate disclaimer that four games is the blink of an eye in a 162-game season, the Angels are nonetheless batting just .219. They have averaged 3.25 runs. They have hit four homers, and none has come from the vaunted top half of the lineup.

Mike Trout is a respectable 5 for 19 (.263), and he's hit some balls on the button. But Josh Hamilton (1 for 16, eight strikeouts), Albert Pujols (1 for 14) and Mark Trumbo (3 for 16) are each searching.

"We know the power is going to show up," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "There is nothing to overreact to. These guys have had four games offensively that they haven't done what they are capable of.

"Albert has hit some balls hard and they haven't fallen in, and Josh is trying to get his feet settled. He had a big hit (a tying two-run single) in Cincinnati, but outside of that he's not where he needs to be."

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